Public being force-fed slanted statistics

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

August 16, 2012

Quite a headline in the Aug. 4 Tribune: "163,000 jobs added in July." Unfortunately, The Tribune avoided mentioning the fact there were 365,000 new unemployment applications for first-time benefits just in the last week. That would seem to calculate to a net loss of 202,000 jobs. The omission boosts the president's status as regards his "jobs program." This information is from the Washington bureau, Associated Press, Christopher S. Rugaber, AP economics writer. Slanting reports that make the president look better to the millions of unemployed is disgraceful on the part of The Tribune. "Balanced" reporting is what we expect from the news media. Unfortunately, this is not what we are being force-fed.

Dr. William LubanVandalia

Dismayed

I was greatly dismayed regarding what The Tribune considered front page news on Aug. 6.

While a note was placed on the banner, the slaughter and continued gun violence that cost the lives of six people in Milwaukee was Page 7 news. The front page was reserved for far more deserving, breaking news, such as street art and something called the Intern Challenge.

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The slaughter in Colorado was front page for several days. Why "bury" this story?

How about The Tribune put real news on the front page where it belongs?

How will gun violence and racial hatred ever be addressed in this country if it is hidden by newspapers like ours?

Scott PhillipsDuneland Beach

Vote for Joe

Joe Donnelly has been a great congressman, tirelessly working for Hoosier values. He has been a champion for veterans care, reforming Walter Reed, opening new clinics and reducing red tape for health care. He has always fought for seniors, helping close the infamous doughnut hole for prescriptions. Unafraid to reach across to Republicans on many issues, he has consistently been rated as one of the most independent voices in Congress.

Sadly, Richard Mourdock still accuses Donnelly of being a "Washington insider" in his commercials. This is tantamount to slander. Mourdock is resorting to the tired old shibboleth about Donnelly voting for $500 billion in cuts to Medicare. This is a ridiculous claim. That money does not affect health care for seniors whatsoever; it only eliminates overpayments through private insurance companies (a Bush-era giveaway to those big corporations). The bill actually strengthens Medicare. Mourdock should be ashamed of distorting the truth, but since he sees himself as a hero for wasting millions of taxpayer dollars in an effort to close Chrysler and cost over 100,000 good-paying jobs, we shouldn't be surprised. Hoosiers wary of the extremist tea party ideology should stay away from him, and vote for Joe in November.

Peter PajakowskiSouth Bend

Diaper woes

Try spending a few bucks on cloth diapers and a box of soap ("Diaper Bank at risk of shutdown," Aug. 2).

It didn't hurt my generation to launder diapers and it won't hurt yours. People will be helping the environment and their budget.